West Branch man to serve up to 25 years for attempted murder

WEST BRANCH - A West Branch man will serve up to 25 years in prison for a 2016 assault that left a woman suffering from a brain bleed, among other injuries.

According to court records, on Friday, 41-year-old Michael T. Kelley pleaded guilty to attempted murder, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. He requested immediate sentencing.

Kelley will have to serve at least 70 percent of that time and will be given for time previously served in the Cedar County Jail.

The charge stems from an assault that occurred sometime between Oct. 8 and 9 at Kelley's home at 613 W. Orange St. in West Branch. The West Branch Police Department said Kelley contacted them and asked an officer to come to his home. West Branch Police Chief Mike Horihan notes in the criminal complaint that the victim - Camie Kelley - was laying in the bedroom and was 'very confused (and) her face was badly swollen.” There was also blood on the floor.

Kelley noted he kept the victim at home and thought she would get better. First responders took the victim to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The victim's mother later reported to police that Camie Kelley suffered a brain bleed on both sides of her brain, a tear to her spleen, a possible tear to her liver, a possible broken jaw and broken teeth.

At the Cedar County Sheriff's Office, Kelley reported getting 'loaded up” on Jack Daniel's whiskey and Adderall, according to the criminal complaints. He told police that 'something happened” between 2-4 a.m. Oct. 9 and that when he woke up on Oct. 9, Camie Kelly was 'beat up, not in good shape and not herself,” police said.

Kelley was originally arrested on charges of willful injury causing serious injury and domestic abuse with intent to inflict serious injury. Charges of neglect of a dependent person, child endangerment and attempted murder were later added. Kelly pleaded guilty to attempted murder in January, according to court records.

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